Nine area residents are being celebrated for their community service as the inaugural honorees of 513 Serves, an initiative from the Cincinnati Open and cornerstone partner Fifth Third to recognize individuals who are making the Greater Cincinnati area a better place.
The nine honorees were selected from 118 nominations, each recognizing individuals who have made an impact on the Cincinnati community through their service, in the areas of education, children, sports, wellness or financial literacy.
“Our inaugural 513 Serves honorees epitomize the vibrant spirit and unwavering sense of community that define the Cincinnati region. It’s a privilege to recognize their outstanding contributions and their relentless dedication to serving others,” said Maggie Brown, Marketing and Community Relations Manager for the Cincinnati Open. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all nominees for their commitment to putting community first, inspiring us to strive for the greater collective good.”
Our inaugural 513 Serves honorees epitomize the vibrant spirit and unwavering sense of community that define the Cincinnati region.
Maggie Brown, Marketing and Community Relations Manager for the Cincinnati Open
The first class of 513 Serves honorees, ranging from a Girl Scout to a doctor, have impacted thousands in the Greater Cincinnati community, with their work helping students, families, cancer patients, at-risk pregnancies and the area’s parks and neighborhoods.
“It came as no surprise to see so many inspiring accounts of people in our community doing so much to help one another,” said Tim Elsbrock, Fifth Third Cincinnati Region President. “The sense of local pride and the willingness to get involved to make a difference are what set this city apart, and that spirit makes us very proud to call Cincinnati home.”
The sense of local pride and the willingness to get involved to make a difference are what set this city apart, and that spirit makes us very proud to call Cincinnati home.
Tim Elsbrock, Fifth Third Cincinnati Region President
Each honoree will designate a charity of their choosing to receive a $5,300 donation as part of being recognized through 513 Serves. In addition, one honoree will be celebrated on each of the nine days of the Cincinnati Open, as they enjoy a VIP tournament experience while watching the Center Court action from courtside Fifth Third 513 Seats, an exclusive, behind-the-scenes facility tour, and more. Each honoree will be recognized on court during their visit and their chosen charity will be promoted within the stadium and on social platforms to encourage further donations.
Meet the inaugural 513 Serves honorees:
Jordan Bankston – Cheviot
Bankston is the founder and CEO of Forever Kings Inc., which fosters a culture of brotherhood among boys and young men of color and provides resources to empower them. Bankston’s dedication to instilling a sense of self-worth, resilience and determination in others has transformed more than 3,000 lives for the better.
Marvin Butts – Pendleton
A grassroots leader involved with several charities, Butts helps Cincinnati’s children and families after overcoming several tragedies in his own youth. He serves his community by providing meals and special opportunities for underserved families during the holidays, hosting health fairs, mentoring at-risk youth, creating an anti-gun violence and anti-bullying program and covering fees for hundreds of students to receive their diplomas and transcripts.
Laura Del Cid – Madeira
Board Chair of COVERD Greater Cincinnati, Del Cid is described as a servant leader who speaks up for equity and inclusion, shining a bright light on social issues and injustices. Del Cid is particularly passionate about Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, a flagship program of COVERD, which provides essential hygiene needs with dignity to women, children, and families and has donated over 12 million diapers in an effort to end diaper need in the Cincinnati area.
Allison Gordon – Blue Ash
Founder of Ride Cincinnati, which has raised over $8 million for local cancer research, Gordon is described as a ray of light to all around her. She has turned her own breast cancer diagnosis and her mother’s death from the disease into a personal mission to help others by raising funds for research and special experiences for women living with breast cancer.
Elizabeth Kelly – Downtown Cincinnati
Founder and lead physician of Cradle Cincinnati, Dr. Kelly’s work has had a significant impact on birth outcomes in Hamilton County. Her meticulous review of every infant death has led to extensive interventions with vulnerable populations to improve birth outcomes, leading to a 20 percent decrease in the infant mortality rate in Hamilton County.
Annie Ruth Napier – Roselawn
As founder of Eye of the Artists Foundation and by working with other nonprofits, Napier has transformed countless lives through arts and education initiatives with her steadfast commitment to her neighborhood of Roselawn. As President of the Roselawn Community Council, her efforts have helped build playgrounds, organize community events and beautify the neighborhood with vibrant art and murals as she advocates for the needs of Roselawn’s residents.
Charvi Seeta – Mason
A student at Mason High School, Seeta raised money to create over 65 toolboxes filled with sensory items for each classroom and intervention specialist at Mason Elementary. This initiative stemmed from her awareness of the increased need for emotional support among children in the classroom following the pandemic. Seeta received the Girl Scouts’ Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor, for her work on this project.
Marcus Thompson – Anderson Township
Serving on the boards of multiple charities, Thompson creates positive change for children, individuals with addictions and the Greater Cincinnati community. Thompson is a longtime youth mentor and board member of Saturday Hoops, a program designed to support and connect with inner city children, and is a member of the Cincinnati Zoo Ambassador Council, among several other volunteer roles throughout Cincinnati. As a commissioner of the Great Parks of Hamilton County he helped open the Beechmont Connector between the Little Miami Scenic Trail and other trails leading to downtown Cincinnati.
Kenneth Webb – Mason
Thousands of Cincinnatians have been impacted by Webb’s leadership with numerous nonprofits over the past 30 years of community outreach and engagement. Currently, hundreds of students at Holmes Middle School and Conner High School have benefitted from Webb’s time, talent and resources as he serves on the Youth Services Advisory Board and guides students with financial literacy and personal responsibility development.
More information on 513 Serves can be found here.